in a panic about plastics, esp TT -- those who've done it -- help!

hi guys,

it's me again!  it's a litte more than 2 weeks until my surgery and it's finally real (does this sound familiar from my VSG??) so i'm finally in the zone of really thinking about it and am petrified of it!  i'm particularly worried about recovery from/pain/inability to move, etc, from the TT.  like what the hell am i doing?!?!!!!?

if you've had it done (and i know a few of you have) can you give me some tips, real info on recovery time (i'm taking 2 weeks, will that be enough?) and stuff like that.  i hear a recliner is a great idea, but have NO room for one, so that is out! Ann (my partner -- i know, same name!) will be home with me until monday (surgery on Thurs) b/c of the holiday.  what about things like binders and drains and things like that?  i'm going to make a lis of questions for the surgeon (seeing her on Weds) like in the pre-VSG days.  what are some good questions???

HELP!!!!!!  Thanks so much for being there!   

Have you posted this on the plastics forum?

This is why, I have waited to have them done. For me, there was definitely some psychological preparation needed.

 yup!!!  we'll see what happens!   ah, the crazy world of wls!

I just got back from my final consult.  Here are some things my surgeon advised me:

1.  He will prescribe a muscle relaxer, a narcotic pain reliever, and anti-inflamatory for me.  He stressed many times to only use the narcotic when necessary - its effectiveness can diminish over the long haul if you take it on a schedule so that by the end of the second week your more uncomfortable.

2.  The incisions will be covered with surgical glue, I will be able to shower the next day, just no scrubbing.

3.  He doesn't use compression garments early out - he finds that patients heal faster without them because of how they can restrict blood flow in the skin.

4.  He suggested possibly getting a toilet seat extender.  Some patients have problems sitting on the commode.

5.  He suggested having some panty liners on hand to put in my underwear to help keep the area around the upper thigh incisions dry.  Since I will have a large number of intersecting incisions, I have a higher number of places where the incisions could open up or have problems.  

6.  Walk at least 5 minutes of every hour. 

7.  Incentive spirometer - old hat there.

8.  When sitting in the chair try to keep toes pointed to keep calves flexed and help prevent clots.

Right now he estimates that I will have 6 drains.  He suggested using an old belt, a hipster, or even a necklace to clip them all to in order to keep them out from under foot or restricting my movement.  The drains are another reason why he doesn't use the compression garments - the drains are doing the work of keeping fluid out from between the skin and the fascia making sure it can heal together.

From everyone I talked to - definitely reconsider the recliner.  It helps to keep your feet up when you are lying back and the motion can help you get up.  I don't like them either, but mine is being delivered Friday.  I just got a cheap one I won't feel bad about getting rid of afterward or worry about if a drain leaks on it.

I am having family come in to help take care of me while Thomas is at work.  

Well Ann I had a Lower body lift/breast lift 2 years ago and I did not need a recliner at all.  I just used pillows tucked under my knees in bed and was fine!  I had my drains in for 6 days and they didn't bother me at all.  And it didn't hurt when they were pulled either.  I did wear a compression garment 24/7 for 3 months and I felt more secure with it on.  As far as recovery time, everyone is so different.  In my case, I was back in the gym at 3 weeks out but most people need 6 weeks before returning to full activities.  I never really had much pain at all.  I hope you are the same.  It really sounds a lot worse than it is.  Good luck.

Laura

Ann:
Haven't had a TT (I wish!!) but have had 3 c-sections and an abdominal hysterectomy so I've had my belly sliced and diced several times.

If you get a recliner, get one that operates with the lever.  DON'T get one that you have to use your legs to push the foot part down---hurts like hell when your lower belly has been cut open.

If you can't get a recliner, (or if you can afford both) get you a couple of foam wedges (medical supply places have them).  You can get one for under your head and one for your knees.  They are great for the bed or couch.  When I had my C-sections, getting from lying flat to sitting up was the worst.

If you have to lay flat for the first few days, remember to roll on your side and push up onto your elbow then push on up to a sitting posiiton while swinging your legs to the floor.

Also ask for the muscle relaxer.  So much of the pain will be from muscle spasms.  Take it and the pain med as scheduled for the first couple of days.  Remember, once you start to hurt bad enough to take the pain med, it's too late.  It takes more medicine to get relief once you are hurting than if you take it preventitively.  But don't over do the narcotics.  They will bind you up and you ain't lived until you try to strain for a BM just a few days after having your belly opened.  The muscle relaxers don't usually constipate so you can rely on them for several days.  Ask your doc for a stool softener too!

Can you tell I've been a nurse for 32 years?  I am used to telling docs what to do.....

Hi Ann,

If you look at my signature, you can see that I had multiple procedures at once.  I can honestly say that the lower body lift was the easist of all of my procedures.  That said, because I had two surgeries in 4 days, I stayed in a clinic for 5 nights.  It was nice having the bed that went up and down because my arms and thighs were also out of commission.  On the 6th night I moved to a regular bed at a hotel.  I think a recliner would have been a pain in the tush. 

If you aren't already to dozens of crunches daily, it's not too late to start.  You have two weeks and our abs respond really quickly.

I had 11 drains from my surgery.  I think 3 of them were related to my lower body lift.  They came out of the mons area.  They were only uncomfortable if I accidently pulled on them.  You will probably get some sort of surgical garment to wear.  I did for 6 weeks, 24/7.  If you have one, you can put on a pair of loose undies and tuck the drains in there.  I removed my last two drains myself at two weeks post op.  One of the things about mons drains is that they leak easily.  Here's how to fix that.  Take a maxi pad and cut a notch in it and slip it around the base of the drain to absorb any leakage.  That should take care of it.  Be careful when you shower if you go home with a drain.  You'll want to hold it up instead of letting it drop to the floor because it will pull.  You can have Ann help you with that.

Your body will need extra protein to heal.  Most surgeons urge us to eat lots of protein regardless of whether we are hungry.  Ask Ann to remind you how important it is to eat because you may not feel like it.  I wasn't hungry at all, and then in less than 20 seconds I'd go to ravishingly hungry.  The kind where I'll hurt you or me if you don't hand me some food immediately.

Don't forget to take stool softeners because pain meds might back you up.  I didn't go for a week and what a mistake that was!

Put a basket filled with your remote, cell phone, charger, glasses, kindle or whatever, big bottle of water, right next to your favorite chair to make it all easy.

Fill up your vitamin holder so that it's brainless and easy.

Wear a soft tank top between your skin and your binder to keep it from rubbing against your incision line.  If part of the binder is digging into you, fold a soft cotton hanky or use a maxi pad to stick between the binder and your skin.

Very loose yoga pants and a loose tshirt is the most you'll want to wear.  Nothing fancy because if you have drains they can leak and ruin your clothes.

Walk slowly and often, not long at a time to prevent blood clots.

Have nice soothing music on your ipod or whatever to help you relax if you need it.  Particularly on the day of surgery.  I had a 13 hour surgery, two hour recovery room and when I got back to my room I loved listening to meditation type music to relax me.

Take your pain meds.  Follow your surgeons instructions.  They know their business. 

Spend your time visualizing how great you'll look.  You've made the decision to have surgery so stop worrying.  Trust your team.  I had a mantra that I said over and over for weeks.  I said it walking into the OR, then again in the recovery room.  I'm going back for some revisions next week so I'm saying it again as I prepare to climb back on the table.  Make something that works for you.  Mine is:

I heal easily and beautifully and everything always works out for me!

I had an LBL and then six months latter a gynecomastia.
Regarding the TT. Do you know if you are having muscle repair? if so that does make the recovery a little tougher. As it may hurt when you cough, sneeze, laugh, etc. But even with that said the uncomfortableness for two weeks is well worth not carrying around the extra skin.

Pain meds are wonderful, Always take them on a schedule and never let the pain get in front of you.

To me the drains are the worse part. They aren't painful just inconvenient and you feel yucky wearing them. My doctor wouldn't let me take a shower until they have been all removed. so that Just adds to the inconvenience.

I never had to wear binders. two weeks after my procedure. I had to wear compression garments. $10 at walmart (Starter brand) for three weeks 24/7 and then another two weeks nights only.

For my LBL I slept in the recliner for two weeks then I transitioned to the bed. for my gynecomastia I went straight to the bed.

Prior to my LBL I always slept on my side. Now I sleep on my back. I can't transition to the side as it's still un comfortable.

I agree with Lee. My appetite decreased but I felt that all the protein shakes I drank helped with my healing.

Not sure if I missed anything but I was pretty detailed in my blogs.

Hi Ann,
I needed a total abdominal hysterectomy, so I planned on having a TT and  BL/BA at the same time.  It was hard finding surgeons willing to work together!

I was nervous but not as nervous as my family members!  They were freaking me out!  I was in the hospital 3 days because of the hysterectomy, and had a pain pump for 2 days.  I loved that thing.  Remarkably, I had NO pain when they removed it.  I went home with narcotics but  took none.  I did have muscle repair.  I felt tightness and pulling, but no real pain.  I did rent a recliner, but ended not using it.  It was hard and uncomfortable, so I slept in bed with lots of pillows behind my head and under my knees.  I was so happy to be in my own bed!  I had two drains, in my mons area that were removed after a week.

I rested, slept, and walked.  I was lucky to have my mom help me out and check on me during the day, and my daughter and husband were great after school and work.  I was back to work at 3 weeks, but only part time until 6 weeks, primarily because of the hysterectomy. 

My surgeon said that TT is a superficial surgery and the healing is much easier than abdominal surgery, where they cut into your body cavity.  He said no bending, lifting, etc.  I found a lot of his advice to be common sense, " If it hurts, don't do it.  If you are tired, sleep.  Try to eat more protein for healing.  Do your breathing exercise.  Walk every day and add distance daily."

Good luck!

I had an extended tummy tuck with muscle tightening the end of May.
I had two drains, one was in about 6 days, the other a week and a half.
I didn't have, or need a special chair or raised toilet seat.
The pain meeds worked great, the first 2-3 days I took a lot of them and slept a lot.
I could shower the next day, I hung the drains from a lanyard.
I was in a binder when I woke up from surgery and wore it for about a month, it felt more comfortable.
I was pretty much taking it easy for about 3 wks but I also had brachioplasty at the same time.
The tummy tuck wasn't so bad, I had a harder time 8 wks later with the back part of me ( completion of lower body lift with butt lift)
I'm allergic to surgical glue so I had internal stitches and exterior tape
I didn't have trouble getting up or moving, I could stand pretty straight after about a week.
I was also not hungry so did protein shakes to keep up the protein.
If you have any other questions just ask, don't worry you will do fine.